The Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District has announced that Afro-Cuban jazz legend and 13-time Grammy winner Chucho Valdés will headline the 20th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The free festival will run from 3 to 10 p.m. at Veterans Plaza at One Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring.
The Silver Spring Jazz Festival, spanning over two decades, has consistently showcased great jazz performers of this generation along with diverse lineups of local talent. This year’s lineup will include the D.C.-based Ethio-Jazz Feedel Band, The Eric Byrd Trio, Todd Marcus Quintet, Dupont Brass, Paul Carr and the Real Jazz Ambassadors, and Marcus Johnson, a founding committee member of the festival.
The festival started in 2004 with local jazz legends Keter Betts and Marcus Johnson headlining. Since then, it has hosted renowned performers and showcased a wide range of jazz styles, including New Orleans big band, contemporary, smooth, straight-ahead, and Latin jazz.
Mr. Valdés, renowned as a pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger, has won seven Grammy Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy. As the founder of the famous Latin jazz band Irakere and with a career of over 60 years, he has continuously pushed boundaries to create new expressions in Afro-Cuban music.
His influence has inspired younger generations to develop their own interpretation of Afro-Cuban jazz.
“The 20th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival is one of our County’s most popular events that highlights our community’s vibrant cultural landscape and commitment to the arts,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a press release issued Tuesday. “Jazz has been a cornerstone of our nation’s cultural diversity and a music education pillar that transcends generations. Hosting a legendary figure like Chucho Valdés, whose contributions to Afro-Cuban jazz have profoundly influenced the genre, underscores the festival’s significance and our dedication to honoring the legacy and evolution of jazz music. This event is an opportunity to appreciate the rich tapestry of musical heritage that unites us all.”
The full history of headliners for the Silver Spring Jazz Festival includes:
- 2024: Chucho Valdés
- 2023: Dee Dee Bridgewater
- 2022: Delfeayo Marsalis
- 2021: COVID (no event)
- 2020: COVID (no event)
- 2019: Arturo Sandoval
- 2018: Dianne Reeves
- 2017: Lao Tizer
- 2016: David Sanborn
- 2015: Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk Big Band
- 2014: Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- 2013: Branford Marsalis
- 2012: Sergio Mendez
- 2011: Marcus Johnson Project
- 2010: Aaron Neville
- 2009: Allen Toussaint
- 2008: Mingus Big Band
- 2007: Arturo Sandoval
- 2006: Spyro Gyra
- 2005: Wynton Marsalis
- 2004: Keter Betts and The Marcus Johnson Project
During the festival, on-site amenities such as restrooms, first aid, and other services will be available. Attendees are encouraged to use public transportation and to bring blankets or low-back lawn chairs for seating. The festival is a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro station on the Red Line and near numerous restaurants in downtown Silver Spring.
The Silver Spring Jazz Festival website has more information, including Metro, parking, and visitor services.
Photo: Chucho Valdés / Facebook